Take a walk with me and stop at my door. There’s a small space seeking attention. It’s not quite an Agatha Christy mystery, but happenings keep happening on a small wooden perch. What is it?
There’s No Mystery! The apartment buildings in my retirement realm have a megawatt of hallways and doorways that overflow with shelves.
Shelves?
You Betcha! Because next to each door is a shelf that can hold a potpourri of creative memories, humorous knick knacks, pretty arrangements—i.e.. miscellaneous collections that I call, SHELF STEW!
The hallway shelf was originally meant to be a functional counter, not an ornamental item. In early Retirement Home design days, designers wanted to offer a useful site to place packages or purses when searching for keys to unlock doors. Another idea was to include a lighted key hole.
Consider: It is a pleasant, creative way to say, “hello” to friends and neighbors. Amazing to think that this not-so-big piece of 14 inches of wood at it largest section could possibly make any impact? But it can and often offers a smile.
Back to Shelf Stew and the embellishment of Floors, Doors and Shelves to add some hallway vibe to boost our moods and outlook. It is my personal aim to add temporary pleasure or color to a long, long hallway.
Winter homage to nature’s glories using dried branches and bits of baubles.
What it’s not:
It’s not rocket science, actually not any science, literature or the new virtual super chic Metaverse.* There are no marquee illusions. There is no exclusivity, not even inclusivity, it is just a personal bunch of mixed decorating stew, like this, 
A Kitschy Valentine Day Salute,
a beautiful museum card,
some 1904 English Tiles.
Same bird!
In reality, some residents are not interested in changing displays. My interests stems from my interior design background because designers have a natural propensity to create and hopefully uplift, please and/or sell to their clients.
My favorite shelf of all time occurred when my granddaughter was eight years old during her first solo visit. We enjoyed ice cream for breakfast, watched TV mysteries in bed, ( early Nancy Drew), while eating french fries and/or popcorn. She surprised me by asking if she could design my shelf. For starters, she collected shells and found a tiered stand in my closet.
added a sign, “The Beach Makes Peace!!
Added another sign, “Tell us what you think of our decoration!!!…Remembered her manners and wrote Thank you!!!…Thinking ahead, she also added Post-It Notes and a pencil, 
Finished it off with a final flourish and a new sign with heartfelt hearts, thanking all who commented.
Doors and Floors!
My Retirement Realm only allows small pets. Hence, Delilah only pops round for her Christmas visit.
Delilah expects a Christmas bow display!
Doors sometimes offer…Surprise! A Festive Birthday Wish from a Dear Friend!
So Many Holidays, New Promises!
Stages of Autumn:
Eerie & Spectral?
.
Turkey Territory!!! 
Plus, among those many hallways are not only shelves, but doors. And if you knock on that door to say hello you will discover a fellow human being who has timeless style and awesome intellect. This is not a rumor; I can unequivocally say that we who have ended up here have found valued friendships scattered among these verdant acres. Friends, who without a moments hesitation, will come to you aid.
At the top of the Friendship Tier___My Family!
Happy Shelving To You!
Sy’s Salient Points:
Friendships are transformative. (A pencil & Post-It Notes on a shelf offered an opportunity for new acquaintanceships.)
* METROPOLIS Editorial, Jan/Feb 2022:”The Metaverse will be the amalgamation of virtual reality, cryptocurrency, NFT’s (non-fungible tokens)…..a collective reimagining of the build environment.”
*A critical essay by Claire L. Evans in METROPOLIS, Jan/Feb. 2022: Claire’s opinion piece regarding Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta’s social VR platform, “Horizon Worlds.” “This metaverse isn’t a new world, only a way of prolonging the grift of social media.”
Happy St. Patricks’s Day Blaire!